International Business Machines Corporation

Brian C Tucker

Noah B Singer

Steven John Ahladas

Robert K Mullady

Marc Henri Coq

Kevin Robert Covi

Raymond J Harrington

Robert Philip Makowicki

Steven G Shevach

William J Petrowsky

Dale F Sorenson

Enver Candan

A signal-analysis-based process for detecting and correcting power feeds is provided. The process includes obtaining voltage waveform data for power feeds connected to a system, and determining for the power feeds, using the obtained voltage waveform data, at least one respective signal characteristic. Further, the process includes comparing the respective signal characteristics of the power feeds to ascertain at least one signal characteristic difference between the power feeds. Based on the at least one signal characteristic difference not exceeding at least one respective difference limit, the process determines that the power feeds are not separately-sourced redundant power feeds connected to the system, and based on determining that the power feeds are not separately-sourced redundant power feeds, the process initiates a corrective action to ensure that the system is connected to separately-sourced redundant power feeds.

Facilitating separately-sourced redundant power feeds to a system

Selective discharging of a rechargeable battery pack across a power supply system load is provided, which includes determining occurrence of a condition within the power supply system, the power supply system including a power supply circuit and a backup energy source. The power supply circuit receives main input power, and the backup energy source is operatively coupled to the power supply circuit to supply backup power to the system load when main power input to the power supply circuit is unavailable. Based on determining occurrence of the condition within the power supply system, a controller actively discharges a rechargeable battery pack of the backup energy source. The actively discharging includes controlling the power supply circuit to force discharging of power from the rechargeable battery pack to the power supply system load by suspending the main input power within the system from powering the system load.

Selective discharging of rechargeable battery pack across system load

Systems and methods for boosting battery voltage with boost converters are provided. Aspects include coupling a discharge path of a battery to an input side of a power converter in a power supply, wherein the power supply comprises a rectifier and the power converter. A charge path of the battery is coupled to an output side of the power converter and a processor monitors an output voltage of the power converter. The processor also monitors an input voltage of the power converter and responsive to the output voltage of the power converter dropping below a threshold voltage, the processor enables the discharge path.

Boosting battery voltage with boost converters

An input-tracking and automatic output-margining system and method including: a logic board having a first load, a second load, and a first regulator disposed thereon; and a power supply having a bulk power source, a precision reference voltage, and a second regulator disposed therein; the first load supplied by a first voltage generated by the power supply, and the second load supplied by a second voltage generated by the first regulator; wherein a reference input to the first regulator comprises a first feedback voltage derived from the first voltage, such that a change in the value of the first voltage is tracked by the second voltage.

Input-tracking, automatic output-margining method and system

A protection circuit for a parallel power system having at least two parallel coupled voltage regulators is disclosed. The protection circuit includes at least two isolation control circuits, each control circuit being coupled to a respective voltage regulator. Each isolation control circuit includes a current sense circuit for sensing current polarity at an output of the respective voltage regulator, and a controller for automatically isolating the respective voltage regulator when an over-voltage condition exists at an output of the parallel power system and a positive current polarity is sensed at the output of the respective voltage regulator. The at least two isolation control circuits isolate only a voltage regulator having positive current outflow during the over-voltage condition. In one embodiment, each isolation control circuit further includes an over-voltage detection circuit for detecting when the over-voltage condition exists at the output of the parallel power system.

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Hyde Park, NY, United States of America

Brian C Tucker